Champoeg is the birthplace of Oregon politics. It is pronounced "sham-POO-ee."

on Saturday, Nick and I took our friends' dogs Blondie and Osito to Champoeg State Park. this historical park was lovely, right on the river, and was established to commemorate two events:

(1) the 1843 vote of 52-50 to organize the Oregon territory under America instead of maintaining a commercial quasi-independence under the British Hudson's Bay Company (want to know more? it's fascinating);


(2) the destruction of the entire town of Champoeg - named after a Native American word for a root? - by a Willamette River flood. the plain where the town stood is flat, with posts to mark the old streets. eerie.

a miracle: i put a bag with my wallet, nick's wallet, the cell phone, and other dear and important items on top of the car when we left the park. in the hubbub with the dogs, we drove at least 15 miles of backroads and some major roads and managed NOT to lose the bag. it was heavy enough to stay put? or maybe the bike rack frame fenced it in? whatever it was, we did a jig and a prayer when we discovered the bag on top of the car in the parking lot of Pasquale's.

we waited outside Pasquale's in Newberg (thanks for the fantastic veggie pizza), playing our new Oregon Trail trivia game in the parking lot. if you remember the ancient computer game Oregon Trail, this game will bring back some really confusing memories as your mind tries to make its 4th grade computer truths ("never ford the big rivers to keep the kids alive!") compatible with its adult knowledge of western history. i will give $10 to the person who can tell me what place on the Trail was the most mentioned in pioneer diaries.

Read a couple nerdy love-y memories about the electronic Oregon Trail (one, two).

the pizza was a 100% necessary prerequisite for the ultimate destination: the 99W drive in! Kentucky's drive-ins have nothing to fear from this tiny setup, but the popcorn - and admission, for that matter - is still half the price of an indoor movie theater. the spirit of the drive-in owner, who got on the mike to cajole us to the concession stand, to remind us of a midnight showing of willy wonka next week, or to mother us into our best exiting behavior - he was the most endearing part of the experience.

Osito uses his wicking tongue for drag when he runs.














Blondie has one of the most beguiling grins I've ever seen on a dog.